Mythology Exploration
Fathers Killing Sons: A Mythological Pastime
Exploring the theme of unknowing filicide.
The story of Rostam and Sohrab, from the Persian epic, the Shahnameh, is perhaps one of the most well-known tragedies in near-eastern mythology and folklore. The major tragedy stems from unknowing filicide, the murder of a child by their parent. Rostam, the ultimate champion of Persian legend, fights and slays the commander of the Turanian (Turkish) host, Sohrab, unaware of his paternal relationship with him.
Heracles, the Greek counterpart of Rostam, has a similar story. He unknowingly kills his family after being driven mad by Hera. In Heracles’ case, that is classified as a familicide.
We can, however, find almost identical stories to Rostam and Sohrab in other western mythologies that deal with unknowing filicide, namely Irish and Germanic myths (Aided Óenfhir Aífe and Hildebrandslied respectively). Many of the themes and plot devices are so identical in fact, it is hard not to question the purpose of unknowing filicide…
